Second round of talks to be held on Polish-Belarusian border

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation based on a request from the heads of the Donbass republics. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territories and the goal was to demilitarize and denazify the country. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported later that the Russian Armed Forces were not delivering strikes against Ukrainian cities. The ministry emphasized that the Ukrainian military infrastructure was being destroyed by precision weapons and there was no threat to civilians.

The West imposed sanctions on Russia, aimed at cutting off its largest banks and preventing the country from importing critical technology. A string of European countries including Germany, Finland, Norway, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Iceland have said they are preparing to close their airspace to Russian planes, mirroring measures already taken by other states on the continent.

The UK, Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Romania, as well as Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, have also moved to shutter their airspace to Russian planes.

According to Russia's TASS news agency, talks between Ukraine and Russia are due to begin on Monday morning near the Belarusian border.

Here are all the latest updates:

Ukraine-Russian peace talks end 

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have reportedly finished.

Russian and Ukrainian officials agreed to meet in the southeastern Belarusian city of Gomel on Monday for talks aimed at halting the fighting in Ukraine and resolving the crisis, Sputnik reported.

The Russian and Ukrainian sides have found some points of contact from which common positions could be built on, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation, has told reporters.

"Talks with the Ukrainian side which lasted about 5 hours have just concluded.

"The ministry emphasized that the Ukrainian military infrastructure was being destroyed by precision weapons and there was no threat to civilians.The West imposed sanctions on Russia, aimed at cutting off its largest banks and preventing the country from importing critical technology"We discussed in detail all the items on the agenda and found some common points on which we can predict common positions," the official said.

First and foremost, this included agreement to continue negotiations. "The next meeting will take place in the coming days on the Polish-Belarusian border. There is a corresponding agreement on this," Medinsky said. "Until then, each delegation - the leadership of each delegations will consult on each of the negotiating positions with the leadership of their respective country," he noted.

Mikhail Podolyak, an advisor to the head of Ukrainian President's Office, confirmed that the possibility of a second round of talks in the near future was discussed.

"The two sides identified a number of priority topics on which certain decisions have been outlined. In order for them to have an opportunity to be implemented...the parties are leaving for consultations in their respective capitals.

The possibility of a second round of negotiations in the near future was discussed, during which these topics will receive concrete, practical development," Podolyak said.

UK bans Russian vessels from its Ports

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Monday ordered all UK seaports to turn away Russian vessels, in response to the situation in Ukraine.

Putin signs special economic measures decree on US, allies 

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree "On the application of special economic measures against the United States and countries that have joined them," the Kremlin press service reported.

Exporters must sell 80 percent of foreign exchange earnings credited from 1 January 2022, the Kremlin press service said, citing the decree.

"For residents participating in foreign economic activity to carry out the mandatory sale of foreign currency in the amount of 80 percent of the amount of foreign currency credited starting from 1 January 2022 to their accounts in authorised banks on the basis of foreign trade contracts concluded with non-residents and providing for the transfer of goods to non-residents, the provision of services to non-residents, performance of work for non-residents, transfer to non-residents of the results of intellectual activity, including exclusive rights to them, no later than three working days from the date this decree comes into force,” according to the decree.

According to the decree, Russian residents are banned from transferring foreign currency to their accounts or deposits in foreign banks.

The decree comes into force from the date of publication.

Ukraine solution possible only if Russia's security interests considered: Putin tells Macron

The Russian side is open to negotiations with Ukraine's representatives, and hopes that these talks will yield the desired results, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said during a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday.

While the French head of state expressed hope for the swift resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine via dialogue and talks with Kiev, Putin pointed out that such resolution would only be possible if Russia's legitimate security interests are taken into account, such as recognition of Russia's sovereignty over the Crimean Peninsula, as well as demilitarisation and denazification of the Ukrainian state and ensuring its neutral status.

Putin also stressed that Russian troops do not threaten civilians and do not conduct strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine.

Special UN General Assembly session on Ukraine opens with a minute’s silence

The UN General Assembly is convening in New York City for a special session on the situation in Ukraine.

"We are all gravely concerned about the fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine," said UNGA Assembly president Abdulla Shahid.

Swiss adopts EU sanctions on Russia, Putin & officials

Swiss government adopts EU sanctions on Russia, against President Vladimir Putin, other officials due to situation in Ukraine, reports Russia state media Sputnik.

Russian nuclear triad takes up standby alert duty with reinforced staff, Shoigu tells Putin

Russia's ground, air and submarine-based nuclear deterrent forces have begun standby alert duty with reinforced personnel, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has informed President Putin, Russian media have said.

Russia restricts flights of airlines of 36 countries 

Russia, as a response to a ban the European states placed on the operation of flights of Russian aircraft, has limited the operation of flights via the airlines of 36 states, the Federal Air Transport Agency said, according to Sputnik.

Kiev demands Russia withdrawal from all Ukrainian territories, incl. Crimea 

Kiev demands withdrawal of all Russian troops including from Crimea and Donbass in delegation talks, the Zelenski office has said, according to RT.

Russia can withstand sanctions: kremlin

The Kremlin on Monday said Russia's economic reality had changed but saw no reason to doubt the effectiveness and reliability of the central bank, which hiked interest rates to 20% as it sought to shield the economy from unprecedented Western sanctions.

US calls for evacuation of non-emergency embassy staff in Moscow

The US has authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency employees, family members at Embassy in Moscow, the state department says.

Moreover, according to RT, the US Treasury prohibits citizens from transactions with Russian Central Bank, and National Wealth Fund and Finance Ministry.

Bulgaria defense minister to be sacked over remarks on Ukraine

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on Monday he would sack Defence Minister Stefan Yanev after Yanev's reluctance to describe the Russian attack on Ukraine as a war prompted calls for his removal, Reuters reported.

Japan allocates additional $100 million aid to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Japan additionally allocated $100 million to the already approved aid of $100 million to help Ukraine.

“Talked with Prime Minister of Japan @kishida230. Thanked for a strong support to 🇺🇦 in countering aggression. Japan allocates $100 million to the already approved aid of $100 million, fully supports tough sanctions against Russia. Thank you! A truly global anti-war coalition works,” he said in a tweet.

Several Russian media websites hacked by anonymous group

Anonymous group claimed Monday that they'd hacked several Russian media websites, including the Russian Forbes website, Russian bBsiness Daily Kommersant's website and TASS.

"We discussed in detail all the items on the agenda and found some common points on which we can predict common positions," the official said.First and foremost, this included agreement to continue negotiations"The latter confirmed to Sputnik that the hack took place.

More than 5,00,000 civilians fled Ukraine conflict: UN

More than half a million people have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its military operation five days ago, with more than half fleeing into Poland, the United Nations said Monday.

"More than 500,000 refugees have now fled from Ukraine into neighbouring countries,” UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said in a tweet.